CASTLE OLDSKULL - Oldskull Monster Generator

The OLDSKULL MONSTER GENERATOR is the ultimate random monster creation tool, created specifically for both the Fifth and First Editions (5E, 1E) of the world’s first and foremost Fantasy Role-Playing Game (FRPG). Rules and guidelines are provided for both editions.

This colossal page compendium contains the largest, most comprehensive, and most ambitious monster creation system ever devised. If you feel that your game might be suffering from a lack of variety in monsters and encounters; if you want straightforward help and guidance in refining your own monster concepts; or, if you just want to inject some old school Gygax-inspired, Arnesonian, and Lovecraftian atmosphere into your modern FRPG, then this is the perfect resource for you. Tap into the chaos, fear and madness of the Elder Things to animate, twitch and galvanize your game!

The OLDSKULL MONSTER GENERATOR is actually a complex set of interrelated monster customization systems. These systems follow the unifying principle of guided randomness, ensuring that your monster is otherworldly, but also that it makes sense and fits perfectly into your structured game world. You can selectively pick and choose from the worksheets and various tools provided herein to supplement your own unique method of monster design. Or, you can enjoy a guided and example-driven mentorship approach, which will lead you through all of the principles of monster creation, encounter development, and campaign integration from beginning to end.

Herein, to assist the harried Game Master (GM), you will find:

POWER: Complete rules for creating any kind of monster (Abomination), from CR 0 to 30 (or old school monster levels I to X). The variety of the monsters you can create is virtually infinite.

OPTIONS: Over 260 articulated Abomination body types to inspire your brainstorming and the creation of ever more bizarre monstrosities. Everything from worms to octopi to centaurs are included.

LAVISH QUOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS: This volume was made to honor and celebrate the golden age of fantasy and weird fiction, and features many quotes from the masters (Dunsany, Lovecraft, Machen, Poe, Verne, Wells, and so forth). It also feature dozens of haunting masterworks from artists old and new.

And much more!

THE OLDSKULL MONSTER GENERATOR is the latest FRPG offering from Kent David Kelly, the author of over twenty books including the popular Castle Oldskull line of OSR gaming supplements, the acclaimed FRPG history series Hawk & Moor, and the Lovecraftian epic Necronomicon: The Cthulhu Revelations.

Holy XXX, KDK. I just bought the Bestiary yesterday, and in my critique I did advise people that there weren't monster statistics or suggestions for powers. I now see why: you'd been waiting to drop this OUTRAGEOUSLY comprehensive monster generator. I'm pretty sure that you covered your bases here.

I'm gonna give a comprehensive review, but at first blush I imagine that this book combined with the Bestiary has obviated the need to pick up another 'monster manual' ever again.

Frank WJanuary 25, 2018 1:54 pm UTC

PURCHASER

How useful is this for Pathfinder? Can I easily convert the generated monsters to Pathfinder rules or is it only useful as inspiration?

Jean MJanuary 25, 2018 4:23 pm UTC

PURCHASER

It's based on SRD5, so you should be able to do so fairly easily.

And besides, the thing's five bucks ... the design worksheets alone are worth that. Even if there wasn't a single number in the whole 400+ pages, just descriptions, it would be worth the price ... think about it, a cup of frou-frou coffee and a donut would cost you more than that. I bought it primarily for the list of descriptive adjectives, and I got my money's worth just from that alone.

It's full of good stuff. It'll be useful.

Jeffery KJanuary 25, 2018 1:04 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I love Castle Oldskull PDFs. I have two complaints and they are minor ones. The table borders are huge black lines that hurt to look upon. The stuff in those tables is awesome. Also, those tables in paragraph form are hard to read.

Again... LOVE THIS STUFF. Don't stop!

Jean MJanuary 25, 2018 3:52 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I have one to add to that: underlined text in blocks, or inside cells in tables, is extremely difficult to read, at least for my aging eyes. The color of the links should be sufficient. Frankly, due to the readability difficulties, I'd rather have the product (all 418 pages of it!) with no links at all, but be able to read it, than have it "convenient" but have to squint a lot. Perhaps a second copy without the underlines, or at least without the links, could be included, much as many products contain screen-optimized and print-optimized PDFs?

A really fantastic work. It does exactly what it says on the tin. If you want a steady supply of wierd monsters this is the book for you. You could roll up 1000 diffrent monsters and each would be unique. Worth every Penny. [...]

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